Students’ organizations in Churachandpur condemn shooting of Tongneh

IT NewsImphal July 18: Students’ organizations in Churachandpur, namely KSO Churachandpur District, Hmar Students Association (HSA), and the Thadou Kuki Students Union (TKSU) in a joint meeting held yesterday strongly condemned the incident of shooting of Tongneh on his leg by some armed assailant at a brick field in Churachandpur on July 17, 2014. A press statement jointly signed by Lalthanzau, Vice President HSA CCPUR, Haoneo Haokip, Gen. Secretary, TKSU-GHQ and N.J. Haoneo Baite, General Secretary, KSO Churachandpur said that inquiry into the matter has revealed that a self-styled armed group who called themselves as KNLA had served a monetary demand of 5 lakh rupees to the brick kiln owner recently. And this shooting incident came to happen after the brick kiln owner did not comply with the unacceptable demand. It added that the three student bodies are very concerned over the rise in cases relating to monetary demand and extortion in the area. The same self-styled armed group had also committed the act of arson that happened on 9 July 2014 at Tuibuong petrol station. The oil pump owner is being served a notice by the group with 20 July 2014 as the deadline to comply with their demands. The KSO Churachandpur, HSA and TKSU also expressed their disappointments with the police department over these criminal cases. It said that an FIR was filed the same night of the arson incident. But to this day no arrest has been made in spite of the seriousness of the crime. The arson was not only an attack on the station’s owner but to all the innocent people who dwell in and around the premises of the petrol station. The police must leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of this and apprehended the criminals at the earliest. Rigorous investigation should be launched by the police. The police’s failure to solve these crimes will diminish people’s trust in the police. The student bodies also appeal to the public for any clue or lead that may help capture the assailants who repeatedly committed these felonies in the area. The three students’ organizations further drew the attention of police to do some real policing work by solving some cases including robbing at SBI Tuibong branch.

William Gurumayum, Sub-Editor of Imphal Times is a resident of Sagolband Salam Leikai. He has been with Imphal Times since 2013. An avid adventure lover, writes mostly travelogue. He can be contacted at [email protected]